Kantorowicz to run for SD 10

Republican J.C. Kantorowicz, a farmer and pilot, has announced his candidacy for Senate District 10 in 2016, possibly pitting him against another member of the GOP now at odds with the county central committee.

The announcement was made Saturday at the annual Pachyderm Dinner by Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs, who served as master of ceremonies during the event.

Kantorowicz, 67, is a life member of the National Rifle Association, the Guns Owners of America and the Montana Shooting Sports Association. He and his wife, Charlotte, have two daughters and two grandchildren.

He said he has four basic components of his campaign: He wants to secure gun rights, he wants to repeal the CSKT water compact, he wants to reform the property taxes and the welfare system.

Republican Rick Ripley now holds the seat but has filed papers with the Commissioner of Political Practices to run for House District 17.

Senate District 10 covers most of Cascade County, including all the communities along the Sun River, Cascade to Belt as well as all communities in between.

Also in SD 10 are the Fox Farm, Woodland Estates and Gibson Flats areas of Great Falls.

Kantorowicz said he is optimistic he will win in November. He said the district is large geographically, with a small portion of it as an urban area. He believes he will do strong in the rural area

George Paul, Cascade County Republican chairman, said Kantorowicz is the type of person many people want representing them in government.

“His practical experience in agriculture, business and education add excitement to him being known as a knowledgeable, fair and honest person,” Paul stated.

However, Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick has also pulled papers with the COPP to run for SD 10.

Fitzpatrick was censured by the central committee in March for introducing House Bill 454, which protected the state’s open primaries. He has been critical of the committee, saying he would not have a legislative vote dictated to him. And he said he votes with his constituents’ best interests in mind.

Last month, he helped form what he said would be a “mainstream” GOP group for Cascade County, saying the current group was ineffective.